Police say that a man who suffered a fractured jaw after he was assaulted by a gang was the victim of a hate crime.

The incident happened last Friday at Lamont Park playing fields in Ballymena, at around 3pm.

The victim, in his 20s, was walking alone in the area when he was attacked by three men and also subject to sectarian insults.

After the attack, the injured man made his way to the car park and dialled 999 for help. He was then taken to hospital by ambulance and was treated for fractures to both sides of his jaw.

One attacker is described as having blond hair shaved on both sides and flat on top, of medium build, 5ft 11in and wearing a Liverpool FC top.

The second man was the same height and build with the same haircut and was wearing a light-blue T-shirt and tracksuit bottoms. The third is described as 6ft with brown hair short at the sides and flat at the top.

North Antrim Sinn Fein MLA Daithi McKay said: "I would encourage everyone with any information pertaining to it to bring it forward to the police."